Apparatus for inverting article containers



Dec'.1T, 1951 E. ROTHMAN APPARATUS FOR INVERTING ARTICLE CONTAINERS 3 SheefQs-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15. 1949 ENVENTQF M E L FKO TiiMAN Dec. 11, 1951 E. ROTHMAN 2,578,603

APPARATUS FOR INVERTING ARTICLE CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 15. 1949 3 Sheets-:Sheet 2 INJENTOR EMiL. RQTHMAN j EY Dec; 11, 1951 I RQTHMAN 2,578,603

APPARATUS FOR INVERTING ARTICLE CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 15. 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.3.

INVENTOR EMIL RDTH MAN BY MWW% $49 ORNEYS Patented Dec. 11, 1951 APPARATUS FOR INVERTING ARTICL CONTAINERS Emil Rothman, New York, N. Y., aeslgnor to Edward Ermold Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 15, 1949, Serial No. 11,104

10 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for discharging materials from containers, and has particular reference to apparatus for inverting containers such as shipping cases to empty them of debris preparatory to repacklng or refilling the cases with bottled goods and the like, although the invention is not limited to that use.

It is common practice to repack beer and other bottled beverage cases with refilled bottles and to that end the cases containing the empty bottles are collected and returned to the bottle shop, where the bottles are removed, cleansed, refilled and repacked into the cases. The returned cases contain debris of various kinds, usually bottle tops, broken glass, and other loose, solid pieces which can be removed simply by dumping, as' by inverting the case. However, the mere inversion of the case to empty it of debris is a separate operation and where the unpacking of the bottles from the case is effected automatically, as by the machine disclosed in copending application Serial No. 785,304, filed November 12, 1947, by applicant, it is likewise desirable to effect the case cleaning operation automatically, so that the case is ready for refilling without requiring manual attention other than inspection for removing damaged cases.

In accordance with the present invention, apparatus is provided for automatically discharging debris from bottle cases as the latter leave an automatic or semi-automatic case unpacking machine, the debri discharging operation being timed with the case unpacking operation so that the two machines operate in step and the debris discharging apparatus complements the case unpacking machine.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a pair of heads rotating in unison about a horizontal axis and spaced apart horizontally to receive an empty case between them. Each head carries a plurality of grippers, such as'two, each gripper being positioned opposite a corresponding gripper on the other head, each gripper being actuated inwardly toward and outwardly from its opposite gripper by a stationary crown cam and each gripper being bodily rotatable simultaneously with its opposite gripper about its horizontal axis upon engagement of a pinion on each gripper with a gear segment coaxial with the axis of rotation of the corresponding head.

The gear segment and crown cam are so arranged that as an empty case is discharged by the case unpacking machine and intoa position between the spaced heads of the debris discharging apparatus, the crown cams of the opposite heads advance opposite grippers toward each other so that the case is clamped securely between a pair of them and carried bodily upwardly in an are by the grippers to the gear segment whereupon pinions on the grippers engage the gear segment and rotate the case-holding 8 1mm about their aligned horizontal axes to invert the case over a debris collecting receptacle into which the loose debris is dumped as it falls from the case. The gear segment then reverts the case to its upright position and the case is carried downwardly to a point immediately above a discharge conveyor, whereupon the crown cams release the corresponding opposite gripp rs for retraction by springs to deposit the cleaned case upon the discharge conveyor. A circular right ing cam cooperating with a cam follower on each gripper keeps the latter from rotating until and after the gear segment performs its case inverting function.

It will be seen that the automatic case inverting apparatus of this invention is a simple and effective adjunct to a case unpacking machine, whereby the auxiliary function of case cleaning may be performedin synchronism with the case unpacking and repacking operations without interruption for manual cleaning.

For a more .complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, shown partly in section as seen along the line l-l of Fig. 2, illustrating one of the case inverting heads and a case in phantom during the successive inverting and reverting steps;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the case inverting apparatu as seen from the right-hand or case inlet side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial section as seen along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, illustrating the cam for advancing the gripper to and from case gripping position, and the case inverting gear segment;

Fig. 4 illustrates the rollers and cam for preventing rotation of the case grippers prior and afterengagement of the case-inverting pinions with the gear segment, as seen along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, and

Fig. 5 is a section seen along the line 55 of Fig. 1 illustrating the case inverting pinion of the gripper cooperating with the gear segment.

Referring to the drawings, numeral i0 designates an infeed conveyor which may be the outfeed conveyor from a case unpacking machine M of the general nature described and whose far sprocket H is keyed on a driven shaft I! which operates in step with the case unpacking machine. not shown. The empty cases C are delivered by the conveyor ill onto a horizontal platform iii, the case being deposited thereon at the point indicated by C in Fig. 1, that is, just beyond the end of the conveyor l0.

Positioned adjacent the end "of conveyor I0 is the frame ll of the apparatus for discharging the debris from case C by inverting same in the manner previously described. Journalled on the frame l4 and parallel to shaft I2 is a cross shaft 8 driven by a sprocket l8 connected by chain II to a sprocket |8 secured to shaft l2. A small pinion l9 secured on driven shaft i8 is connected by chain 28 to a large sprocket 2| keyed on a stub shaft 22 rotating in roller bearings 23 mounted in a hub 24 supported on a vertical web 28 mounted on side wall 3|. A second set comprising web 28, hub 24. stub shaft 22, sprocket 2|, chain 28 and pinion l8 are mounted in laterally spaced relation and parallel to the first set, so that there is one set at each side of the machine as shown particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Keyed on each stub shaft 22 by key 28 for rotation with shaft 22 is a drum-like head as is shown particularly in Fig. 3. Each head 21 comprises a two-armed spider 28 welded to the hub 28 to which the shaft 22 is secured by key 28.

The spider 28 rotates within a semicircular hood or casing 38 carried by means of bowed tubes 32 welded to horizontal plates 82 bolted to channels 83 of frame l4. The lateral wall 33 and the side wall 3| of the head 21 are welded to tubes 32. As shown particularly in Fig. 3, side wall 3| is provided with an aperture through which the shaft 22 of spider-driving sprocket 2| projects.

Journalled and also axially slidably mounted in bearings 34 secured in spaced hubs 28' welded to the ends of the two arms of'spider 28 are the shafts 38 of the case grippers. As indicated in Fig. 2, two such shafts 38 are provided. although there may be more depending on requirements. Secured to the outer free end of each gripper shaft 38 is a circular plate 31 carrving a nonmetallic pad or cushion 38, preferably made of rubber or other equivalent friction material for grippin the cases. It will be observed particularly in Fig. 2 that corresponding gripping pads on opposite heads 21 are axially aligned for joint caseripping coperation, in a manner to be described.

The opposite or inner end of each gripper shaft 38 is provided with a recess in hich is rotatably inserted the pin 33 of a clevis 48. this pin having a peripheral groove 4| in which a wire keeper is positioned so that gripper shaft 38 may rotate independently of clevis 48 which carries a cam-followin roller 42 en a ing a stationary crown ca 43 secured b bolts 44 to t e inner surface of the side wall 3| of each head 21. The cam 43 is provided with side flan es 48 for guidin the roller 42 and for preventing it from rotatin with the correspondin gripper shaft 38. It will be observed that in follo ing the cam 43 the cam roller 42 causes the shaft 38 and pad 38 of the corresponding gripper 38 to move axially inwardly and outwardlv in accordance with the contour of the cam 43,'which will be described in greater detail.

Secured b bolts 48 to the ed e of each stationarv web 28 and concentrically with the axis of rotation of gripper spider 23 is an interrupted horseshoe-shaped circular cam 41 shown especially in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Engaging the edge of the interrupted cam 41 are two of the four camfollowing rollers 48 joumalled on a rectangular plate 48 secured on the inner end of each gripper shaft 38 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. 'It will be observed that when two of the four rollers 43 are in engagement with cam 41 the corresponding gripper shaft 38 and its gripper pad 38 are prevented from rotating, and may rotate only when rollers 43 are disengaged from cam 4'|, i. e., when 4 they have passed off of the end of the cam 47 into the interrupted space 41', shown in Fig. 1, and before two of the four rollers 48 reengage the cam 47 at the other side of the spacell'.

Splined by means of key 88 on each gripper shaft 36 is a pinion 8| which is continuously urged into engagement with flange 34' on bear ing 34 by coil spring 82 encircling shaft 38 and engaging plate 48 at its other end, as is best shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Because plate 43 is se cured to shaft 48, the pressure of spring 82 against plate 49 also serves to urge cam-following roller 42 against the track of crown cam 43 so that roller 42 follows the cam 43 without vibration during operation. Each pinion 8| lies in the vertical plane of gear segment 83 which is mounted by tap bolts 84 to bosses 88 on stationary center web 28 and concentrically with the axis of rotation of gripper spider 28, as shown particularly in Fig. 5. It will be observed from Fig. 1 that gear segment 83 has the same angular position as the gap 41' in horseshoe-shaped cam 41, and extends slightly beyond the same at each side. In effect, gear segment 83 cooperating with cam 41 jointly constitute an interrupted circular gear, whereby when cam 41 frees gripper shaft 38 for rotation of a gripper 38 about its axis, the corresponding pinion 8| engages gear segment 83 and causes gripper 38 to rotate for a purpose to be described.

' Located opposite the incoming conveyor i8 is a discharge conveyor 88, which may be the inclined gravity conveyor shown, for receiving discharged cases in the manner to be described. Located below and between the two heads 21 is an open-top debris box 81 which may be removed for. emptying and replaced on the center vertical line of the machine; as indicated in Figs. land 2.

Adiustments are provided for laterally locating the machine relatively to the frame of the case unpacking machine M, this adjustment being afl'orded bv bolts 88 passing through vertical slots 89 in plates 88 secured to frame l4, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. By means of these bolts 88, the cases C discharging to position C may be accurately centered horizontally with respect to the circular path of the grippers, as indicated in Fig. 1. Similarly, by means of vertical adjusting bolts 8| the elevation of the frame |4 may be adjusted so that the grippers 38 when aligned horizontally, as shown in Fig. 1, lie opposite the horizontal center line of the case C when actuated b cam 43 to grip the case C. Also, bolts 84 securing the plates 82 of head 21 to frame I 4 pass through slots 88 in channels 83 permitting lateral adjustment of the head 21. Other adjustments suited to requirements may be made.

In operation of the case inverting and cleaning apparatus of this invention, the infeed conveyor Ill deposits cases C on platform l3 in position 0' after the cases have been emptied of their contents such as bottles, but while thecases still contain debris such as bottle caps, broken glass, and the like. The timing of cam 43 is so arranged that as a case 0 is deposited on platform |3 in the position indicated by C, cam 43 urges opposite grippers 38 inwardly to engage the opposite ends of the case C and grip the latter securely between them at the approximate intersection of the vertical and horizontal center planes of the case C.

Spiders 28 of the opposite heads 21 are being rotated continuously in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 1 by the sprocket and chain combination I9, 20, 2|, so that a case in position C, after engagement by the grippers 35 in the manner described, is lifted from platform l3 and carried bodily upwardly by spider 28 and grippers 35 through the corresponding arc toward the top of the machine, meanwhile being kept in an approximate upright position by the cam-followin rollers 48 engaging horseshoe cam 41. Toward the top of the machine, cam-following rollers 48 run oil the end of cam 41 into space 41' while pinions 5| of the opposite functioning rippers 35 engage gear segment 53 to rotate the corresponding grippers 35 so as to rotate the case from the upright to the inverted position C" at the top of the machine, as is shown in phantom in Fig. 1. In the inverted position C" in Fig. 1, any debris in the case falls by gravity into the receptacle 51, the free fall of the debris being uninterrupted by reason of the open space between the heads 21 as is best shown in Fig. 2.

The rotation oi the case from the upright position C to the fully inverted position C" at the top of the machine is such as to effect about 180 of rotation and from the inverted position at C" to the position the case is again rotated through about 180 to restore it to its substantially upright position at C'. This rotation is effected jointly by the tilt of the case in its upward course through the arc of cam 41 to its end at gap 41', which is preferably about 54", and then by segment 53, which preferably imparts a rotation of about 252 to the case, which takes it beyond the fully in-' verted position 0''. Consequently, when pinions run off the ends of the gripper gear segments 53 and the cam followers 48 reengage cam 41, the case has been emptied of its debris. Durina its course down cam 41 to lowered position 0'' the case moves through about 54, having made a 360 revolution, and is read for release from the machine at position 0', shown in Fig. 1. At this point, cam 43 releases cam-fob lower 42 and the corresponding spring 52 retracts the gripper 35 from the case at opposite sides of the machine, so that the case is dropped onto the outfeed conveyor 56 for discharge, as indicated in Fig. 1.

It will be observed that during rotation of the grippers 35 with the case by gear segments 53, plates 49 and rollers 48 also are bodily rotated, so that the two rollers 48 which reengage cam 41 are not the same rollers 48 that left the cam 41 at gap 41' but the opposite pair of rollers 48.

Case infeed timing is preferably such that one of the two sets of opposite grippers 35 engages an incoming case when the other set discharges a cleaned case. The machine is adjustable for different size cases by spacing the heads 21 apart on frame l4 by means of bolts 64 cooperating with the horizontal slots 65 in frame channels 63 shown in Fig. 2, and as previously indicated, the positioning of the case with respect to the center line of the inverting machine is adjusted by bolts 58 for horizontal adjustment, and by bolt 6| for vertical adjustment.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereby, but is susceptible to changes within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a container inverting apparatus, the combination of a pair of spaced opposite gripping members adapted to receive a container between them, feed mechanism for positioning a container between said members-means advancing at least one 01' said members along a common axis toward the other member to grip the container between them, a mounting for said members for simultaneous movement about an axis parallel to said axis, means driving said members about said parallel axis to bodily move said container, a segment concentric with said parallel axis, a wheel on said gripping members and tangent to said segment for rotation thereby to invert the. container, and means for disengaging said grippers from said container after said inversion.

2. In a container inverting apparatus, the combination of a pair of spaced opposite gripping members adapted to receive a container between them, feed mechanism for positioning a container between said members, means advancing at least one of said members along a common axis toward the other member to grip the container between them, a mounting for said members for simultaneous movement about an axis parallel to said axis, means driving said members about said parallel axis to bodily move said container, a gear segment concentric with said parallel axis, a gear wheel on said gripping members and tangent to said segment for rotation thereby to invert the container, and means for disengaging said grippers from said container after said inversion.

3. In a container inverting apparatus, the combination or. a pair of spaced opposite gripping members adapted to receive a container between them, feed mechanism for positioning a container between said members, means advancing at least one of said members along a common axis toward the other member to grip the container between them, a mounting for said members for simultaneous movement about an axis parallel to said axis, means driving said members about said parallel axis to bodily move said container, a segment concentric with said parallel axis, a wheel on said gripping members and tangent to said segment for rotation thereby to invert the container, holding means concentric with said segment for preventing rotation of said gripper members prior to engagement of said wheel with said segment, and means for disengagin said grippers from said container after said inversion.

4. In a container inverting apparatus, the combination of a pair of spaced opposite gripping members adapted to receive a container between them, feed mechanism for positioning a container between said members, means advancing at least one of said members along a common axis toward the other member to grip the container between them, a mounting for said members for simultaneous movement about an axis parallel to said axis, means driving said members about said parallel axis to bodily move said container, a segment concentric with said parallel axis, a wheel on said gripping members and tangent to said segment for rotation thereby to invert the container, a circular track concentric with said segment, holding means on said gripper members engaging said track for preventing rotation of said gripper members prior to engagement of said wheel with said segment, and means for disengaging said grippers from said container after said inversion.

5. In container inverting apparatus, the combination of a pair of spaced opposite gripping membersadapted to receive a container between them, feed mechanism for positioning a contain- -er between said members, a support mounting said members for rotation about their common axis, means mounting said support about an axis parallel to said common axis, a stationary cam for first advancing and then retracting at least one of said members along said common axis, whereby said container is first gripped between said opposite members and then released, a segment concentric with said parallel axis, a wheel on said gripper members and tangent to said segment for rotating said members about said common axis after said container is gripped thereby to rotate said container through an inverted position, and receiving means for said container after release by said cam.

6. In container inverting apparatus, the combination of a pair of spaced opposite gripping members adapted to receive a container between them, feed mechanism for positioning a container between said members, a support mounting said members for rotation about their common axis, means mounting said support about an axis parallel to said common axis, a staionary cam for first advancing and then retracting at least one of said members along said common axis, whereby said container is first gripped between said opposite members and then released, a gear segment concentric with said parallel axis, a gear wheel on said gripper mem bers and tangent to said segment for rotating said members about said common axis after said container is gripped thereby to rotate said container through an inverted position, and receiving means for said container after release by said cam.

7. In container inverting apparatus, the combination of a pair of spaced opposite gripping members adapted to receive a container between them, feed mechanism for positioning a container between said members, a support mounting said members for rotation about their common axis, means mounting said support about an axis parallel to said common axis, a stationary cam for first advancing and then retracting at least one of said members along said common axis, whereby said container is first gripped between said opposite members and then released, means including an interrupted gear concentric with said parallel axis and a corresponding pinion on each of said members for rotating said members about said common axis after said container is gripped thereby to rotate said container through an inverted position, and receiving means for said container after release by said cam.

8. In container inverting apparatus, the combination of a pair of spaced opposite gripping members adapted to receive a container between them, feed mechanism for positioning a container between said members; a support mounting said members for rotation about their common axis, means mounting said support about an axis parallel to said common axis, a stationary cam for first advancing and then retracting at least one of said members along said com.- mon axis, whereby said container is first gripped between said opposite members and then released. a segment concentric with said parallel axis, a wheel on said gripper members and tangent to said segment forrotating said members about said common axis after said container is gripped thereby to rotate said container through an inverted position, holding means concentric with said segment for preventing rotation of said members prior to engagement of said wheel with said segment, and receiving means for said container after release by said cam.

9. In container inverting apparatus, the combination of a pair of spaced opposite gripping members adapted to receive a container between them, feed mechanism for positioning a container between said members, a support mounting said members for rotation about their common axis, means mounting said support about an axis parallel to said common axis, a stationary cam for first advancing and then retracting at least one of said members along said common axis,

whereby said container is first gripped between said opposite members and then released, means including an interrupted gear concentric with said parallel axis and a corresponding pinion on each of said members for rotating said members about said common axis after saidcontainer is gripped thereby to rotate said container through an inverted position, a track concentric with said gear, a pair of spaced rollers on each gripper member engaging said track for preventing rotation of said members prior to engagement of said pinions with said gear, and receiving means for said container after release by said cam.

10. In container inverting apparatus, the combination of a pair of spaced opposite gripping members adapted to receive a container between them, feed mechanism for positioning a container between said members, a support mounting said members for rotation about their common axis, means mounting said support about an axis parallel to said common axis, a stationary cam for first advancing and then retracting at least one of said members along said common axis, whereby said container is first gripped between said opposite members and then released, means includ ing an interrupted gear concentric with said parallel axis and a corresponding pinion on each of said members for rotating said members about said common axis after said container is gripped thereby to rotate said container through an inverted position, a track concentric with said gear and having an interrupted segment having substantially the same radial angle length and position as the toothed segment of said interrupted gear, followers on each gripper member tangent to said track for preventing rotation of said members prior to engagement of said pinions with said gear, and receiving means for said container after release by said cam.

EMIL ROTHMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 766,515 Northrup Aug. 2, 1904 1,290,675 Stebler et al. Jan. '7, 1919 1,786,608 Halstead Dec. 30, 1930 1,858,642 Ross May 1'7, 1932 1,909,813 Crosbie May 16, 1933 2,424,252 Orlando July 22, 1947 

